Tap into powerful continuous learning, for one and all

The all-digital, all-electric world we live in poses new challenges for how we work. New technologies require engineers to redevelop their skills while changing regulations require constant monitoring and applied understanding. At the same time, customers are asking for the latest solutions. And, with critical requirements for sustainability and netzero efficiency alongside the need for robust cybersecurity, successful power professionals are constantly seeking ways to further their knowledge and upgrade their skills.

With digitalisation, electrification and energy efficiency a priority across myriad industries, the need for highly skilled electric and power talent is essential. Skills will ensure economic growth while meeting the sustainability ambitions to secure our future.

Take the fact that the National Grid predicts that the UK’s net zero efforts will create over 400,000 new jobs by 2050. However, a well-publicised skills gap within the electric industries means that many organisations are failing to source the talent that is vital to global goals. Concern about a talent crisis in power is picking up speed. According to the latest Global Energy Talent Index (GETI), nearly 60% of power professionals are worried that companies will not be able to fill essential roles – an 11% increase from just two years ago.

This has very real implications. As the Royal Academy of Engineering recently reported, engineers are vital to reaching UN climate goals, however, this will fail unless talent is equipped with the required level of skills. Addressing engineering capability gaps truly is a global concern.

Engineering a future mindset

What does this skills challenge mean for engineers? Quite simply, the time is ripe for skilled professionals to revitalise their skillsets, ensuring career resilience and readiness for the future. Embracing continuous learning stands engineers in great stead to shape meaningful and rewarding careers in roles that really matter. Cultivating a mindset of learning is essential.

In 2018 Cunningham & Kelly explored what they termed the ‘Engineering Mindset’. Primarily concerned with its application in schooling, it’s worth reflecting on the foundations of an engineer’s approach, which includes the ability to persist through challenge and learn from it. With such rapid developments within the industry, constant change throws up varying challenges, and engineers can feel overwhelmed. Instead, there are ways to consider these challenges as opportunities.

In this new world, engineers who cultivate a growth mindset lay the foundations for continued success.

Through learning, we re-perceive the world and our relationship to it. Through learning, we extend our capacity to create, to be part of the generative process of life. There is within each of us a deep hunger for this type of learning. Peter M. Senge, The Fifth Discipline

A growth mindset is a way of focusing on harnessing challenges as opportunities to get better and improve. Taking control of learning and development is a fundamental quality for engineers, never more so in today’s landscape. This isn’t a mission that can be faced alone. This is an opportunity better faced together.

It is essential that engineers can access learning opportunities, resources, support, and communities that streamline their path to skills success.

Access a community of global expertise

It takes an ecosystem to support engineers to develop their skills. That’s why Schneider Electric has bought together a library of resources and a community of partners to help engineers to stay up to date with technologies and trends and develop the skills and competencies they need to flourish.

With over 360k electricians, 43k design offices and 37k panel builders, the Schneider Electric partner ecosystem is working together towards solving the challenges of our times, large and small.

Through an easily accessible portal, mySchneider is a dedicated platform to address the roadblock designers and engineers face every day while also providing the support needed to address future skills. It provides resources and support to enhance engineering careers, including a multimedia library of live and on-demand professional webinars covering myriad topics.

Available for free through mySchneider, engineers now have access to expert webinars, on-demand training, CPD and IET accredited courses. Encompassing enhanced skillsets in diverse areas, from cyber security, project management, design best practices to, Cascading & Discrimination, Forms of Separation, and the latest in power systems.

Included in the mySchneider’s on-demand webinars for power professionals is the Power Distribution stream. Its latest webinar, Active Safety System; Connectivity & Visibility at Final Distribution, explores market trends and the newest safety systems for compliance with new wiring and real-time visibility of electrical distribution systems and how they support sustainability objectives. One of many resources available, this latest webinar provides an example of the holistic approach to learning and expert insight now available to engineers on demand.

Alongside a library of free webinars, mySchneider offers a range of tools to help grow expertise:

• Stay ahead - Get the latest updates on industry trends and technologies, both from a global and local perspective. Explore leadership content, webinars, and courses.
• Learn from real examples - Explore project deployment case studies in buildings and infrastructures, from design to construction and maintenance.
• Engage a community of global expertise - Connect with our network of local and global industry and application experts. Collaborate with our partner community. Interact with peers and subject matter experts at events and through communities to exchange ideas, provide and receive support.
  

Energising a continuous learning culture

The latest GETI report was clear that engineers are particularly interested in honing their technology skills through training and mentorship. This is an indicator that companies should seek to support upskilling current employees to fill their skills gaps, rather than only relying on fresh talent. One of the challenges with reskilling is it’s not always clear what skills are needed, especially when disruption and innovation becomes even more rapid.

With Schneider Electric University, engineers have access to over 200 free, vendor-neutral e-learning courses covering the essentials of today’s industry, including Data Centers, Energy and Infrastructure, Industry, Healthcare, and Buildings and Residential. They can also choose from two certification opportunities: Data Center Certified Associate (DCCA) and Professional Energy Manager (PEM).

A safe foundation

Underpinning all learning is safety. Schneider Electric’s Electrical Safety Training offers courses across the entirety of safe electrical practice. From HIgh Voltage for HV and LV systems to substation and UK NHS specific training, the A-Z of safety is covered in a suite of bookable options. 

Elevating building performance

Buildings produce 40% of global emissions, making effective building management not just a matter of organisation importance, but an issue of global significance. As Scott Foster, the Sustainable Energy Division Director at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe said recently:

“Buildings are central to meeting the sustainability challenge. Done right, buildings, the built environment, and the communities they support address clean energy and climate, deliver health and quality of life, improve employment, affordability, social equity, resilience, and carbon intensities, improve water and land resource management, and provide both mobility and technology access. The capability to meet the challenge exists today.”

Engineering excellence to meet global and local objectives means developing the world’s leading Building Performance Solutions and Services teams, focused on technical engineering excellence, adapting to changing customer and market needs.

From Electrical Awareness to Networks and Communications knowledge, essential for powering smart, sustainable buildings, Schneider Electric’s Building Management Training adds another vital skill to teams’ arsenal. Courses incorporate Building Management Systems (BMS) and EcoStruxure Building Operation (EBO) so that managers can appreciate control system architecture, workstations, controllers, networks and cyber security and build awareness of integration and Smart buildings and the Schneider Electric EcoStruxure model.

More than a third of energy consumption in buildings is wasted - solutions plus skills are essential in ensuring people-centric buildings designed for net-zero are achieved.

From challenge to success

With on-demand learning, skills can keep up with innovation, even during periods of rapid advancement.

A continuous learning culture is a vital foundation for success. According to Deloitte, companies with a culture of continuous learning are 46% more likely to be first to market, experience 37% higher productivity and are 92% more likely to innovate.

Supporting individuals to continually gain knowledge, increase competencies and adapt skills must be an organisational objective. Where times of uncertainty meet unparalleled opportunities, those who can adapt will thrive. Successful adaptation can only be achieved through a culture of effective learning and support for individuals to develop and flourish. Where personal mastery meets shared vision, transformation and innovation become cemented as pillars of the organisation. From there, challenge can only breed success.

Personal expertise for all challenges

And remember, no matter the challenge, engineers can also engage with Schneider Electric’s network of Electrical Engineering Consultants who offer complete design solutions for electrical distribution whether it be an industrial installation, hospital, university or commercial building.

• Arc Flash - Review of equipment/process/people to ensure safe operation of your site.
• Fault Level - Understand risks and stresses which may occur on your electrical network and take steps to minimise risk to life from arc flashes under fault conditions.
• Harmonic Surveys - Identify the existing supply impedance and individual harmonics to reduce both electrical insulation degradation and nuisance tripping of overloads.
• Power Quality Assessment - Measurement taken on your power quality with recommendations to avoid overload /tripping / improve efficiencies.
• Transformer Assessment - On-site audit of your power transformers, with measurements taken both on- and off-line.
• Electrical Contingency Plan - Proactively reduce the risk to your installation and minimise lost revenue through system downtime by running a detailed recovery plan.
• Earthing Study - analysis of the condition, specification and configuration of the existing on-site earthing systems. Compliance with the existing earthing systems with standards and legislation.

Helping you improve the reliability of your electrical network, reduce downtime and comply with legislation, from automation to building efficiency there are experts on hand to work with you to a resolution - building your skills along the way.  

Register here